There is a heavy security presence at the Manhyia Palace on Tuesday, April 29, as the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, convenes a high-level peace mediation session to address the protracted Bawku chieftaincy conflict in the Upper East Region.
Armed police and military personnel were stationed at key entry points of the palace in Kumasi as rival factions from Bawku arrived for a closed-door dialogue led by the revered monarch, who has been tasked by President John Dramani Mahama to mediate the long-running ethnic and traditional dispute.
The latest intervention by the Asantehene comes amid renewed calls for lasting peace in the conflict-stricken area, where sporadic violence has claimed lives and disrupted economic and social life for years.
Ahead of the meeting, security personnel thoroughly screened all visitors, with some roads leading to the palace cordoned off to maintain order and ensure the safety of delegates and dignitaries involved in the mediation.
